Malta is the only country in the European Union, and possibly in the world, where consumers have no idea what brand and grade of petrol and diesel they are purchasing!

Is this acceptable to the European Commission? Are Maltese citizens second-class EU citizens?

How can the Minister for Energy claim that the local petroleum market is liberalised in such circumstances?

On 23^rd October, the call for tenders for the procurement of unleaded petrol for the period January to June 2016 closed. This call for tenders was issued by Enemed Company Limited - the state-owned company - on 9^th October.

How was it possible for the Minister for Finance to declare in the Budget Speech on 12^th October, that the prices of fuel were to be reduced as from next January because Enemed had concluded an agreement through which the price of petrol will be reduced by 3 cents while the price of diesel will be reduced by 4 cents - inclusive of an increase of 3 cents in excise duties?

With whom had Enemed reached an agreement for petrol by 12^th October, when the closing date for tenders was 23^rd October? Can the Minister for Energy let us know with whom this agreement was reached?

In the call for tenders, Enemed asked for offers for the supply of four parcels of 6,900 metric tonnes each and two parcels of 5,600 metric tonnes each of RON95 unleaded petrol, and two parcels of 1,300 metric tonnes each of RON98 unleaded petrol.

From which filling stations is the RON98 unleaded petrol going to be available? At what price is such petrol going to be sold?

Enemed has also issued a call for tenders for the procurement of 2,300 cubic metres of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to be blended with EN590 diesel. This tender, which was issued by Enemed on 7^th October, closed on 21^st October, and the delivery of this HVO is scheduled to arrive between the second and third week of this month.

Does this mean that the diesel purchased later this month is going to be blended with HVO? At which filling stations is the diesel blended with HVO going to be available? Is this going to be at the same price as the other diesel?

What information is Enemed providing to consumers about such petrol and diesel? Do not consumers have a right to know what they are purchasing?

The Malta Automobile Club, like the government's former consultant Michael Falzon, maintains that the importation, storage and sale of petrol and diesel should not be government business.

The importation, storage and sale of petrol and diesel should be left in the hands of the local representatives of foreign oil companies, who should be allowed to compete among themselves to provide petrol and diesel at the lowest prices possible that reflect international fuel prices.

Alfred A. Farrugia

Malta Automobile Club